Apparatus for melting and processing crude oleoresin



' J. o. REED 2,356,793

APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND PROCESSING CRUD E 'OLEORESIN Aug. 29, 19.44.

Filed March 27, 1941 d m a W T m 0 v 2 v Q. N s E I R V U m F Y 1-5mm"-nfl nfluuflu u n "mmmm B b v p 2 w m w H m 2 & n mfi Q 2 4 9 v k 2 o 88 3 9 l w V 5 0 E 1 3 m. 1 R l U I! 1| II n B v F O 2 M a 4 I I 2 2 3 3ATTO R NEY Patented Aug 29, 1944 V APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND PROCESS-ING canon oLEonnsIN .less'e 0. Reed. Washington,

D. 0., assignor to Claude R. Wickard, as Secretary of Agriculture ofAmerica, and to his sucof the United States cessors in omce ApplicationMarch 27, 1941, Serial No. 385,508 (01. 210-1505) 3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of amended April 30, 1928;

This application i made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended bythe act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described andclaimed, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United- States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an apparatus for melting and processing crudeoleresin, or other resinous materials.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for melting crudeoleoresin, and preparing the same for filtration or purification in aprocess of refining crude oleoresin. I A further object of my inventionis to provide an apparatus for the rapid and uniform melting of crudeoleoresin, without foreign material, such as pieces of bark, leaves,chips, etc., coming in direct contact with the heating medium, in orderthat maximum yields are obtained both in quantity and quality of the endproducts.

Crude oleoresin usually contains a high percentage of foreign materials,such as pine chips, bark, leaves, sand, etc. The c mponents and physicalproperties of oleoresin vary throughout the operating season, and rangefrom a highly viscous material, containing some crystalline substances,to a dry mass known as scrape. Large quantities of scrape are oftenmixed with the viscous oleoresin to form a material which is difficultto melt uniformly, because of the high temperature required to melt thescrape, as

not shown.

' tially of an March 3, 1883, as .370 o. G. 757) design for carrying outthe principles of my in- H vention.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figur l, theapparatus consists essenelongated cylindrical pressure tank I, having anupper reduced neck 2, provided with a removable head 3, through whichthe tank is charged with the material, such as crude oleoresin, toclamped in carried by projecting ears 5 2 by any suitable means.provided in head be melted. Head 3 is adapted to be secured to said neckOpenings 6 and I are 3 for safety and vent valves,

The lower end of tank I is provided with a reduced cylinder portion orsump I0, which extends through and is joined to the dishedbottom I II ofthe tank and outer wall of steam Jacket I2. Reduced cylinder portion orsump I'll is provided with: outlet pipe connection 9 for compared to theviscous fluid portion of the oleoresin. Because of variable physicalproperties of the crude products to be handled, and because of the easewith which undesired color is'added to the material being processed, bythe improper application of heat, especially to the color-adding foreignsubstances, such as bark, chips, leaves, etc., my apparatus has beendesigned so that a uniformly melted and undamaged product, having arelatively low viscosity, can be prepared without difficulty. Subsequentsteps in an oleoresin refining process, therefore, can besimplified andadapted to function more satisfactorily. I I

Th accompanying drawing illustrates in a preferred form the apparatusembodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my oleoresin melting apparatus.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the base of my apparatusshowing another preferred discharge of contents of tank I; steam pipeconnection I4 for introduction of live steam to the interior of thetank, and turpentine or solvent pipe connection I5 for introduction ofsolvents or diluents into the tank. Lower chamber or sump III, fittedwith bottom I3, serves as a converging central point for the collectionand distrlbution of materials either to be introduced or removed fromthe tank.

In the lower portion of pressur tank I there is positioned a perforatedflat bottom basket Il, removably supported in spaced relation to thewalls of the tank by an upper annular baffle I8 secured to the innercylindrical wall of the tank, and having'a cylindrical flange l6engaging said basket. In order to facilitat the removal of basket I1,ears I!) that project from upper bands of the basket are provided 'forthe insertion of hooks from a hoisting apparatus, not shown.

, Basket I"! may be formed of woven wire mesh cloth 35. preferably ofwiresize .080 inch diameter and meshsize'Noufi. 'Basket "is of gen--'erally cylindrical's-hape with the wire mesh bottom reinforced andbacked with a reinforcing perforated plate 20 of a gaugeof suflicientthickness and stifiness to maintain the original shape of basket I! whenfilled completely. Reinforcing perforated plate Zll of the bottom ofbasket I1 rests upon supports 8'welded to bottom II of tank I, saidsupports 8 only lifting said bottom of basket II a suificient space fromtank bottom II to permit drainage ofmaterial into sump 10.

place by means of swinging bolts 4 It is essential that the bottom ofbasket I1 be so positioned that it rest upon, or be raised onlysumciently from bottom II to permit drainage from the space outside ofbasket I1. It is also essential that this close proximity be maintainedso that the material difficult to melt such as "scrape" and crystallineoleoresin that may have settled to the bottom of basket I1 not onlycomes near the source of heat from jacket I2, but also is subjectedtothe action of live steam or added turpentine, introduced either in sumpII, or through pipe 36, hereinafter described. The restricted clearancebetween the bottom of basket 'I1 and bottom II of tank I causes the livesteam and/or turpentine from sump I or pipe 33 to be forced into,through, and within basket I1, thereby bringing direct heat from thelive steam and dissolving action of turpentine into intimate contactwith the scrape, sediment,

residue. etc., within basket I1.

'"A heating coil 2| is placed in the pace between the inner side wallsof tank I and basket I1, said coil 2| receiving steam, or any heatingmedium, at connection 22 and exhausting at connection 23. Steam, or anyother heating medium, is supplied to jacketed bottom through pipeconnection 24 in jacket I2 and exhausts from pipe connection 25 locatednear lower cham-,

r I0. Pipe 24 extends from and through baiile I8 toward neck 2 andserves as vent or pressure equalizer between the exterior and interiorof basket I1 and also provides means for transfer of products betweenthe spaces outside and inside of basket I1.

Pipe connection 21, controlled by valve 4|, is provided for exhaustingvapors from tank I, said pipe connection 21 running to a condenser, notshown, for recovery of said vapors. Pipe connection 28 is adapted forthe introduction of steam into the upper chamber of tank I. Pipeconnections 23 and 30 are auxiliary openings for the insertion of athermometer and pressure gauge, not shown. Openings 3|, 32 and 33 areadapted for insertion of valves, not shown, to determine liquid levelwithin tank I, as well as points which can be used for the introductionof solvents or live steam.

Since the size, especially the diameter of tank I, influences: (1) therelationship of heating coil 2| to material to be melted, especiallythat disposed in the center of. basket I1; and (2) the means fordistribution of solvents, steam, etcL, introduced in sump III formelting and liquefying materials retained within basket I1, changes ormodifications in said basket I1 become necessary for the satisfactoryperformance of a large diameter tank. Such modifications as arenecessary are illustrated in Figure 2. Perforated tube 34 extendsthrough the center of basket "with top closed by means of cover 39 andhaving its bottom open; The bottom of tube 34 projects throughreinforcing perforated plate 20 and wire mesh 33 forming the bottom ofbasket I1. Perforated tube 34 is covered with wire mesh 38.

Perforated tube 34 is braced in pIace by brackets 40 extending fromcover 39 to flanged top I8 of side pipe connections closed, and the tankcharged with the material to be melted, such as crude oleoresin. Thetank is filled to a level just below pipe connection 21, thereby fillingbasket I1, resting in place in the bottom chamber of tank I. Removablehead 3 is then fastened in place, vapor tight, by means of swingingbolts 4. Steam is admitted into coil 2| and into steam jacket I2 of tankbottom II through their respective inlets 22 and 24. As the oleoresinbecomes heated by the steam, some of the material within basket I1 meltsand passes through wire mesh cloth 3! and drains into the bottom of thetank and into sumpIO. The refuse and unmelted material is retained inbasket I1 by wire-mesh cloth 3!. As melting continues, the chamberbetween the bottom and side of basket I1, bafile I3, and the sides ofthe tank become filled. The melted gum within this said chamber incoming in contact w h coil 2| and steam jacketed bottom II rapidlyreaches a distillation temperature which, in giving off turpentine andsteam vapors, permeates the mass within and above-basket I1. Atdistillation temperature some of the crude oleoresin rapidly melts,while the heavier particles descend to the bottom of basket I1.Continued heating and melting of the oleoresin will in time produce avapor pressure within the tank, so valve 4| is preferably kept open,permitting the products of distillation to be vented and recovered in acondensing apparatus, not shown. Distillation at atmospheric pressurecauses a greater amount of turbulence than is possible if the heating isdone under pressure. The result is a more rapid rate of melting. It isto be noted that this heating is done so that the foreign matterpreviously referred to does not come in contact with steam coil 2| 6rjacketed bottom II of the tank.

With many classes of crude oleoresin no other source of heat is requiredother than that supplied indirectly through pipe coil 2| and jacketedbottom II. Live steam can be applied directly to the oleoresin, butinvestigations have shown that the introduction of live steam to crudeoleoresin has a tendency to leach from the foreign material present inthecrude oleoresin water solubleand color-adding-materials, which mustbe re- 1 moved in a gum refining process, if maximum yields are to beobtained. Therefore, live steam is used and introduced into tank I,either through connection 14, or control valve 31, only when agitationand a more direct application of heat is required to melt "scrape andcrystalline oleoresin that may have settled to the bottom of basket I1.

When live steam is required for the melting of certain classes ofoleoresin, it is introduced in sump III, where it distills or causes aturbulence,

' of melted gum around the base and side of basket basket I1. Runningthrough bottom I3 of sump I terial to be melted or dissolved adjacent towire mesh 35 on perforated tube 34. Pipe 36 can be I1, resulting in themelting of the oleoresinous material within said basket. The sameprinciple of melting is also employed in-the modiflca tion as shown inFigure 2. Live steam is admitted through control valve 31, into pipe 36,and exhausts inside of perforated tube 34. In this case alsodistillation or turbulence of melted gum occurs within a close proximityof possibly some ofthe unmelted products settled within basket I1. Amelting of all the products is accomplished without the excessive use oflive steam; without an excessive amount or distillation andisomerization resulting in'the formation of a resinous-like ascentsmass, difflcult to filter and handle through the pipe lines ofturpentine gum refining processing equipment.

The apparatus of my invention is not only.

possible to introduce the turpentine as a dilu-.

ent within close proximity of the materials difiicult to melt, and therefuse, which have settied in the bottom of basket ll. Turpentine isintroduced in sump to through pipe connection 95, or control valve 38.In Figure 2, turpentine enters through control valve 38,. pipes l5 and36,

and into tube 3d, where it is extruded into the material in basket H.The melting action that takes place is similar to that previouslydescribed when steam is being introduced. In a like manper, a cleanseparation and complete recovery of the oleoresin from the refusewithheld in the bottom of basketil is obtained.

y apparatus also provides for the introduc- .tion of live steam with theturpentine beingadded as a diluent. A combination of live steam andturpentine accelerates the rate of melting, because of the added heatfrom the live steam.

Steam is introduced into sump I0 through valve be processed so that aproduct having satisfactory filtration characteristics is made availablefor subsequent steps in an oleoresin refining process.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim for Letters Patent is:\x

l. A melting tank comprising a chamber having a vertical cylindricalhousing and a dished bottom, a sump [chamber below and communieatingwith said dished bottom, a foraminous basket vertically disposed abovesaid sump chamber in the lower part of said housing, said basket havingan upper rim, brackets to support said .basket in spaced relation abovesaid dished bottom, an annular baflle extending downwardly from saidhousing to said upper rim, heating means in said housing surroundingsaidbasket, a foraminous tube axially disposed in said basket,

bracing members extending from the upper end of said tube to said rim,and a pipe extending from the exterior of the sump chamber through thebottom of and into said tube.

2. A melting tank comprising a chamber having a vertical cylindricalhousing and a dished bottom, a sump chamber below and communicating withsaid dished bottom, a ioraminous basket vertically disposed above saidsump chamber in the lower part of said housing, said basket having anupper rim, brackets to support said basket in spaced relation above saiddished bottom, an annular baflle extendin downwardly from said housingto said upper rim, a tube in the upper part of the housing having oneend through the bafiie to communicate with the space below said bafileand the other end in the form of an inverted U at a point near the topof the housing, and heating means in said housis closed. A pressure isthereby produced in the tank, which is equalized on both sides of"basket l! by pipe 26. Valve 42, controlling the exhaust from sump i0, isthen opened and the melted contents of the tank are forced to a filter,or any other desired equipment of an oleoresin refining process.Additional pressure, if required, can be obtained by the admission oflive steam into the top of tank I by means of pipe connection 28.

After tank I is discharged, the recovery of the oleoresin remaining inthe refuse withheld in basket II can be accomplished by theintroductionof additional turpentine, as previously stated, or by theintroduction of live steam through any of the connections provided inthe tank, so as to obtain a steam pressure or temperature which willpermeate the mass of refuse and melt therefrom the oleoresinousmaterials.

It will be seen that the apparatu which .I have provided is adapted forthe processing of oleoresin in addition to melting; that the melting ofcrude oleoresin without the necessity of the use of quantities of livesteam is made possible, and that crude oleoresin of all classes can ingsurrounding said basket.

ing a vertical cylindrical housing and a dished bottom, a sump chamberbelow and communieating with said dished bottom, exterior pipescommunicating with said sump chamber, a foraminous basket verticallydisposed above said sump chamber in .the lower part of said housing,said basket having an upper rim, brackets to support said basket inspaced relation above said dished bottom, an annular baflle extendingdown-, wardly from said housing to said upper rim, 1!. tube in the upperpart of the housing havin one end through the baffle to communicate withthe space below said baflle and the other end in the form of an invertedU at a point'near the top of the housing, a foraminous tube axiallydisposed in said basket, the upper end of said tube being closed, wiremesh surrounding said tube, bracing members extending from the upper endof said tube to said rim, a pipe extending from the exteriorof the sumpchamber through the bottom of said tube a substantial distancethereabove, and heating means in said housing surrounding said basket.

. JESSE 0. REED.

